School of Racism : A Canadian History, 1830–1915

Exposing the history of racism in Canada’s classrooms Winner of the prestigious Clio-Quebec, Lionel-Groulx, and Canadian History of Education Association awards In School of Racism , Catherine Larochelle demonstrates how Quebec’s school system has, from its inception and for decades, taught and endorsed colonial domination and racism. This English translation extends its crucial lesson to readers worldwide, bridging English- and French-Canadian histories to deliver a better understanding of Canada’s past and present identity. Guided by postcolonial, antiracist, and feminist theories and methodologies, Larochelle examines late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century classroom materials used in Quebec’s public and private schools. Many of these materials made their way into curricula across the country and contained textual and visual representations that constructed Indigenous, Black, Arab, and Asian peoples as “the Other” while reinforcing the collective identity of Quebec, and Canada more broadly, as white. School of Racism uncovers the ways Canada’s education system has supported and sustained ideologies of white supremacy―ideologies so deeply embedded that they still linger in school texts and programming today. Offering insights into how concepts of nationalism and racism overlap, Larochelle’s innovative analysis helps educators confront discrimination in their classrooms and furthers discussions about race and colonialism in Canada. Exposing the history of racism in Canadas classrooms Winner of the prestigious Clio-Quebec, Lionel-Groulx, and Canadian History of Education Association awards In School of Racism , Catherine Larochelle demonstrates how Quebecs school system has, from its inception and for decades, taught and endorsed colonial domination and racism. This English translation of the award-winning book extends its crucial lesson to readers across the country, bridging English- and French-Canadian histories to deliver a better understanding of Canadas past and present identity. Using postcolonial, antiracist, and feminist theories and methodologies, Larochelle examines late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century classroom materials used in Quebecs public and private schools. Many of these textbooks, and others like them, made their way into curricula across Canada. Larochelles innovative analysis illuminates how textual and visual representations found in these archives constructed Indigenous, Black, Arab, and Asian peoples as the Other while reinforcing the collective identity of Quebec, and Canada more broadly, as white. Uncovering the origins and persistence of individual and systemic racism against people of colour, Larochelle shows how Otherness was presented toand utilized byyoung Canadians for almost a century. School of Racism names the ways in which Canadas education system has supported and sustained ideologies of white supremacyideologies so deeply embedded that they still linger in school texts and programming today. The book offers new insights into how Canadian and Qubcois concepts of nationalism and racism overlap, helps educators confront racism in their classrooms, and deepens urgent discussions about race and colonialism throughout Canada. Cover Contents Author’s Note Introduction Chapter 1. The Theories of Otherness Chapter 2. Other Societies: Imperialist Knowledge and Orientalist Representations Chapter 3. The Other-Body, or Alterity Inscribed in the Flesh Chapter 4. The Indian: Domination, Erasure, and Appropriation Chapter 5. The Other Ovserved or “Teaching through the Eyes” Chapter 6. Of Missions and Emotions: Children and the Missionary Mobilization Conclusion Acknowledgements Appendix List of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index